Carefield - Supported Living

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated Good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty.

Systems were in place to learn from lessons following accidents and incidents.

The service had systems in place to record accidents and incidents. Records were kept of accidents and incidents with details of the incidents, action taken and lessons were learnt as part of these investigations. This process helped reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring again, supporting people to remain as safe as possible while using the service. The lessons learnt were shared with the staff team.

The provider worked with people and professionals to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care when people were being supported.

Systems were in place to capture information as part of the pre-assessment process to determine if the service could support people safely. This included speaking with the referring agency and the person where possible.

We saw that pre-assessments had been completed and used to record key information about people’s support and care needs to determine the support required. This information was then used to create care plans based on people’s preferences and choices on the support they required. The registered manager told us, where possible, people had the same carers to ensure relationships were built so people received continuity of care.

People were provided with a support guide when moving into the supported living service, which included information on the support available and details on how to keep themselves safe.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect.

A safeguarding policy was in place that detailed the types of abuse and how to escalate concerns if staff suspected or saw abuse to ensure people were protected. Records such as survey results and review meetings with people evidenced people had no concerns about the support they received.

Staff knew about safeguarding processes and had received training in this area. A staff member told us, "I recently completed safeguarding training and learnt how to raise a safeguarding, types of safeguarding, protocols to follow and who to report such as the CQC or local safeguarding team."

Records showed that safeguarding was also discussed as part of staff supervisions. A staff member told us, “I have been trained in safeguarding. To safeguard residents against harm and abuse. If I see this, I will talk to my manager about it and I can go to the council and CQC.”

The service managed people’s finances and checks were in place to ensure people’s finances were safeguarded.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Risk assessments were in place to ensure people received safe care. Risks had been identified and there were risk assessments to ensure people were safe when being supported. Guidance was in place for staff to follow on what actions to take to manage risks to make sure people remained as safe as possible.

Risk assessments were reviewed, and any changes were reflected with updated risk assessments.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment.

Environmental risk assessments completed to ensure the supported living premises was safe for both staff and people such as identifying hazards to minimise risk of falls, fire and infection. A business continuity plan was in place that included information on what to do in the event of an emergency and temporary place to stay.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

Staff had completed key training such as on health and safety, role of a care worker, moving and handling and first aid. Specialist training was also completed, including key topic areas such as dementia, learning disabilities and nutrition. Systems were in place that showed the training staff had completed and the dates the training were completed to ensure oversight. A staff member told us, “We have got online training and physical training like moving and handling, safeguarding and first aid. Training is very helpful.”

Regular supervisions including appraisals had been carried out to ensure staff were supported. Staff confirmed they received regular supervisions and support from the registered manager. A staff member told us, “I get regular supervisions, every 2 months. I am supported by my superiors.”

There were appropriate numbers of staff on duty to support people safely at the supported living site. Rotas confirmed there were enough staff to support people safely. A staff member told us, “We have enough staff to support people safely.”

Records showed relevant pre-employment checks, such as criminal records checks, right to work in the UK, references, health declaration and proof of the person’s identity had been carried out to ensure staff were of good character.

The provider had an effective approach to assessing and managing the risk of infection, which is in line with current relevant national guidance.

Systems were in place to prevent infection. Staff were able to tell us the process of ensuring people were protected from infection such as good hygiene protocols and wearing personal protective equipment and that they had been trained in infection control. Records showed that staff had been trained on infection control and effective hand hygiene.

Infection control audits and spot checks were carried out at the supported living site by the registered manager to check that staff adhered to good infection control standards.

We observed the supported living site was clean and tidy. A staff member told us, “I am trained on infection control. All the staff have to follow a strict cleaning guideline and get spot checks to make sure everything is clean.”

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences.

Medicines were managed safely. Medicines Administration Records (MARs) showed that medicines had been administered as prescribed. For medicine to be administered when needed, protocols were in place to ensure the medicine was administered safely. Medicines audits were carried out to ensure people received their medicines safely. Staff had also been trained in medicines management.

We observed medicines were securely stored at the supported living site.

Medicine support plans were in place that detailed the type of medicines people were on and the support they needed. Risk assessment had also been completed for medicines that may potentially harm a person such as blood thinning medicines.

Staff told us they were confident in managing medicines. The registered manager was able to demonstrate the process of ensuring medicines were managed safely such as training being delivered to staff and regular checks made on medicines administration and records. A staff member told us, “I am trained in medicines, so I am confident in it. In meetings, we discuss medicine management to be safe and discuss as part of supervisions. My manager always is speaking to us about medicines.”